Mark Ong has been doodling and painting on sneakers for about 15 years, and it’s now his full-time career.

Working under the moniker Mr Sabotage, Mark is dubbed Singapore’s OG sneaker artist.

Customising sneakers had always been a mere hobby for him, until he won an international competition on Nike Talk Forum in 2003 — that was when he realised that he could build a viable career out of it.

The win marked the start of his own label SBTG (short for Sabotage), as he received a massive order of 72 customised pairs from Atmos, a sneaker store from Japan.

“I was in business ever since,” said the 38-year-old.

The Birth Of SBTG

Mark Ong, founder of SBTG / Image Credit: SBTG

The visual communication graduate from Temasek Polytechnic said that back in school, he had created an experimental brand identity under the name Sabotage — which he felt was an apt name for a teenager with a rebellious streak.

“I used this brand identity when I entered the competition and when Atmos ordered the shoes from me, they wanted [the name] Sabotage. Things happened so organically that I had no time to reconsider my brand name.”

The name stuck with him, and he has since coined it as his moniker.

SBTG’s range has since expanded to include other apparel and small leather goods, but it’s sneakers that Mark is still best known for.

He essentially buys sneakers, customises their designs, and then sells them to sneaker fans worldwide.

According to him, the start-up cost was “close to zero” as SBTG is a made-to-order business with minimal inventory.

They also didn’t have any overheads back then, so the business has been profitable since day one.

Moreover, customers usually make advance payments in full, which helps to support cashflow and fund his business.

Unlike most entrepreneurs, the startup journey for him was rather smooth and wasn’t particularly fraught with difficulties.

His only main challenge was managing the expectations of clients, but he considers that as part and parcel of his job.

First Gig With Nike Helped Put His Name On The Map

A snippet of SBTG’s sneaker collection / Image Credit: SBTG

Fast forward to today, SBTG has grown into a cult favourite among the international sneaker community.

The local artist is well-known for his military-inspired designs and intricate work on iconic sneakers such as the Nike Air Force 1, Air Huarache, and many more.

His hand-painted camouflage designs are to sneakerheads what Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram is to fashionistas.

Beyond military motifs, Mark said that he draws his inspiration from old-school punk music, as well as skateboarding and other sub-cultures.

“We have a certain aesthetic so we operate more like a brand than a hobbyist. Having an original style is important so we adopted a signature look which people come to us for,” he said in a separate interview with The Business Times.

As Mark developed a “very guerrilla and DIY” aesthetic for SBTG over the years, he makes it a point to only release designs that they consider classics.

SBTG x Asics / Image Credit: SBTG

So far, SBTG has collaborated with sneaker companies like Nike, Reebok, Asics and Puma, and even non-footwear brands like Casio, G-Shock and Johnnie Walker have released limited edition SBTG-designed products.

Recalling his past projects, Mark said that his first sneaker gig with Nike served as the brand’s turning point as it helped “open doors” and “put [his] name on the map.”